Joist for joist and tile construction for floors and the like



June Z, T936. Hl FA FREASE 2,042,779

JOIST FOR JOISTiAND TILE CONSTRUCTION FOR FLOORS AND THE LIKE OriginalFiled May 23, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet lY ab' 01) y INVENTOR HiT/'waagATTORNEYS y* `will june 2, 3.936. H -F FREASE 2,042,779

JOIST FOR JOIST AND TILE CONSTRUCTION FOR FLOORS AND THE LIKE OriginalFiled May 23,` 1931 5 SheetS-Shee 2 ll' J\ @ggf INVENTOR BY @Meggie ATTORNEYS Jam@ 2, 11936. H, F. FREASE JOIST FOR JOIST AND TILE CONSTRUCTIONFOR FLOORS AND THE LIKE original Filed May 23, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Flm INVENTOR BQ HWF/ease M IMM'TORNEYS june Z, @1936. H F FRL-:ASE2,042,779

JOIST FOR JOIST AND TILE CONSTRUCTION FOR FLOORS AND THE LIKE OriginalFiled May 25, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS June 2, T9536. H,F, FREASE JOIST FOR JOIST-AND TILE CONSTRUCTION FOR FLOORS AND THE LIKEOriginal Filed May 23, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR BY ww@ iS/MATTORNEYS Patented June 2, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOIST FORJOIST AND TILE CONSTRUCTION FOR/FLOORS AND THE LIKE Hurxthal F. Frease,Canton, Ohio 13 Claims.

My invention relates to joist structures including longitudinallyextending laterally spaced load sustaining joists or members supportedat their ends, and surface forming members extending between the loadsustaining members for forming spaced surfaces extending across theouter sides of the load sustaining members.

Such structures may include normally vertically extending walls,normally sloping roofs, or normally horizontal floors.

More particularly the present invention relates to joists for re andheat resisting transverse load sustaining floors including preferablysteel joists having upper and lower chord members and surface formingmembers supported by the joists and forming an upper floor surface and alower ceiling surface extending respectively above and below the upperand and lower chord members of the joists.

The present invention is a division of subject matter set forth in myprior application for United States Letters Patent for Joist and tileconstruction for floors and the like, filed May 23, v1931, Serial No.539,545.

In the usual steel joist floor construction, each joist includestransversely spaced longitudinally extending upper and lower chordmembers, means maintaining the chord members in proper load sustainingtransversely spaced position, and end l supports which rest upon spacedbearings such as beams.

The joists are laterally spaced from each other and extendlongitudinally between the bearings, and metal lath or sheet metaldecking extends across and is supported on the upper chords of thejoists and is covered usually by a layer of concrete or other materialfor forming the upper floor surface, and in the case of oiiicebuildings, public buildings, residences, or the like, metal lath isusually suspended below the lower chords of the joists, and the lowermetal lath is covered with coatings of plaster or the like for formingthe lower ceiling surfaces.

Such usual steel joist floor construction, whether or not including aceiling as aforesaid, does not satisfy the requirements of re and heatresisting, or so-called lire-proof, construction, because loadsustaining members of the joists, and the inner surfaces of the lath arenot provided with heat and re resisting coverings such as concrete,tile, or the like, and may be subject to the direct action of heat orflames.

From the standpoint of erection however, joist floor construction isvery desirable, because the joists for each floor may be placed inposition on (Cl. 'l2-61) the bearing beams of the steel or other mainframe of the building as it is erected, and temporary flooring may belaid over the joists for use during the further erection of thebuilding, and for preventing workmen from falling.

When fire-proof construction is required however, it has heretofore beennecessary to use some form of solid reinforced concrete floor, arch tilefloor, tile or pan and reinforced concrete beam iloor, or special orplural unit tile floor.

All of these usual types of fire-proof floors involve the use ofconcrete, grout, or mortar, and most of such floors require the use ofseparate forms or centering upon which the concrete is poured to makesolid floors, or upon which concrete is combined with tile or pans, tomake tile and concrete, or pan and concrete floors, or upon which tileis laid up with mortar by masons to make tile arch oors.

Some forms of the special or plural unit tile iloor eliminate centeringby the use of tile having an unusual or special transverse crosssection, or by the use of a plurality of sets of tile units, the u nitof each set having a transverse cross section, different from the otherset units. Such special tile or sets of special tile are veryobjectionable from the standpoint of the tile manufacturer, becausespecial dies are required for forming the tile, and because it is verydiicult to maintain an adequate supply of the special units to meet therequirements of builders in various parts of the country.

From the standpoint of erection the usual workmen available for buildingpurposes have diiculty in properly positioning and arranging the severaldifferent shapes or units of tile in plural unit construction.

Moreover, aside from the standpoint of iireproong, all joist floorconstructions commercially available prior to the present invention,have required the combination of more than two diierent or separateelements, other than concrete, grout, or mortar, to provide self-sustaining structures having spaced flat floor and ceiling surfaces.

The objects of the present invention are in general to provide joistsadapted to improve and reduce the cost of joist and tile construction,and specically are as follows:

First, to provide joists for a self-sustaining structure includingspaced flat outer surfaces, and which includes, excepting concrete,grout, or other similar material when used, only two diierent sets ofelements, namely a set of laterally spaced similar load sustainingelements or joists, and a single set of similar surface formingelements, preferably refractory tile, the surface forming elementsspanning between `and being supported by the joists;

Second, to provide joists for a self-sustaining joist and tile structurewhich is adapted for meeting the most rigid re-proong requirements, andwhich may be constructed at a minimum cost;

Third, to provide joists for a joist and tile structure in which thejoists support the tile, and in which the tile have a rectangularcrosssection, whereby the tile may be made in any usual building tilemanufacturing plant without requiring special dies;

Fourth, to provide joists for a fire-proof joist and tile structure inwhich the use of concrete, grout, or similar material is optional;

Fifth, toprovide joists for a self-sustainingV joist and tile structureadapted for supporting transverse loads, and in which all the elementsincluding concrete, grout, or similar material when used, cooperate witheach other to attain the maximum efficiency of each separate element;that is to say the steel of the joist is subject to a maximum tensionand a minimum compression loading, the tile is subject to a maximumcompression and shear loading and a minimum tension loading, and theconcrete, grout or similar material when used is subject to a maximumcompression and shear loading and a minimum tension loading, or ifdesired, the concrete may be subject to no structural loading whatever;

Sixth, to provide joists for a joist and tile structure, in which thejoist and tile elements after being properly installed, permanentlyposition and interlock each other without additional means, and thecomplete structure when used as a iioor being adapted to resist lateraltwisting of the main frame of the building, as the result of windpressure and the like;

Seventh, to provide joists for a joist and tile structure particularlyadapted for permitting the use of rectangular tile of relatively greatlength; and

Eighth, to provide improved joists particularly adapted for combinationwith improved tile to form improved joist and tile structures.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the structures, parts,improvements, and combinations, which comprise the present invention,and which are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth inthe appended claims forming part hereof.

In general terms the improved structures may be described as includingthe improved laterally spaced longitudinally extending load sustainingspanning members o-r joists hereof, and improved surface forming membersor blocks extending between the spanning members and forming spaced flatsurfaces extending across'the outer sides of the spanning members, eachimproved spanning member including one or more longitudinally extendingupper chord members, one' or more longitudinally extending lower chordmembers, and

means maintaining the chord members in. proper load sustaining position,each lower chord member being laterally as well as transversely spacedfrom one of the upper cho-rd members, and the improved blocks preferablycomprising refractory adjacent spanning members, and each block pref-yerably having a notched seat formed in each 1 of its lower end corners,whereby each end of each block is supported on one of the lower chordmembers of one of the spanning members, and the lower portion of eachend of each block may be formed for extending beneath the chord membersupporting the block and forming a concrete or grout retaining shelf,and when it is desired to eliminate the use of concrete, grout or thelike, the upper portion of each end of each block may be formed forextending over one or more of the upper chord members, and the ends ofthe block may be positively engaged by concrete or grout whenv thesameis used to embed the spanning members, and preferably the ends of theblocks abut against sides of the load sustaining members forinterlocking with the load sustaining members, whether or not co-ncreteor other embedding material is used.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which Figure 1v is. a topplan view illustrating one embodiment ofthe improved joist and tile oorstructure, including one form of improved lever arch joist hereof, andone form of improvedend notched tile, portions of the floor beingillustrated finished, and other portions being illustrated during thecourse of construction;

Fig. 2, a sectional view thereof looking at the side of one ofthejoists;

Fig. 3, a top plan view of another form of improved lever arch joistvhereof particularly adapted for the improved joist and tile floorstructure;

Fig. 4, a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 5, a top plan view of a form of improved bar joisthereo-fparticularly adapted for the improved joist and tile floor structure;

Fig. 6, a sideV elevation thereof;

Fig. 7, a top plan View of another lform of improved bar joist hereoffor use in the improved 4.0;;

the joist of Figs. 5 and 6 with tile similar to the 50 tile of Figs. 1,2, and 9;

Fig. 12, a similar View illustrating the use of the joist of Figs. '7and 8 with tile similar to the tile of Figs. l, 2, and 9;

Fig. 13, a similar view illustrating another embodiment of the improvedjoist and tile structure including the joist ofy Figs. 3 and 4, and asecond embodiment of the improved tile, and in which no concrete isused, and the method of erectionbeing indicated.

Fig. 14, a similar View illustrating another embodiment of the improvedjoist and tile floor structure including the joist of Figs. 3' and 4,and a third embodiment of the improved tile, together with concreteembedding the joistand tile, the tile being formed so as to eliminatethe necessity of separate forms or centering for receiving the concretewhen poured.

Fig. l5, a fragmentary isometric perspective View of the iioor structureof Fig. l; and

Fig. 16, an isometricv perspective view of one of the improved tile.

Similar numerals refer throughout the drawings.

One embodiment of the improved joist and tile to similar parts floorstructure is indicated general at F-I in Figs. l, 2, and 9. 'The floorstructure F-I includes a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinallyextending improved load sustaining spanning members each indicatedgenerally by J-I,

and a plurality of improved surface forming tile or blocks eachindicated generally by T-I, the blocks T-I extending between and bearingon adjacent spanning members J-I, and forming a spaced flat upper floorsurface S-f and a spaced at lower ceiling surface S-c extendingrespectively above and below the spanning members J-I.

Each 'improved spanning member J-I is preferably an improved embodimentof the lever arch joists set forth in my prior United States LettersPatent No. 1,686,910, and in my prior applications for United StatesLetters Patent, Serial No. 129,- 424, and Serial No. 280,484.

For attaining the particular objects of the present invention, each ofthe improved spanning members or lever arch joists indicated generallyby J-I includes triangular arch struts 2a and 2b which may be formed bydiagonally severing a rectangular plate.

The struts 2a and 2b are arranged with their apexes 3a. and 3bypreferably abutting each other, as at 4.

A pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending upper chord membersor bars 5 and 5' are secured alongA the upper edges 6a and 6b of thestruts 2a and 2b, as by arc welds' 1; and the bars 5 and 5 respectivelyare preferably provided with terminals 5a and 5b, and 5a and 5'bextending beyond the ends of the arch struts 2a and 2b.

Heel struts 8a and 3a' are Secured, as by arc welds 'I, on oppositesides of the base 9a of the arch strut 2a; and heel struts 8b and 8b aresecured, as by arc welds 1, on opposite sides of the base 9b of the archstrut 2b.

Each heel strut, as illustrated, is preferably a length of standardangle, and the apex of each angle heel strut extends transversely of itsjoist, and one leg of each angle heel strut abuts the side face of thearch strutto which it is secured, and the other leg of each angle heelstrut extends laterally outwardly from the side of the arch strut towhich it is secured, the laterally extending legs of the angle heelstruts being preferably located at the outer edges of the bases 9a and9b of the arch struts 2a and 2b respectively.

Laterally extending tie rod spacing and anchor members Illa and Illb aresecured respectively as by arc welds I on the outer faces of thelaterally extending legs of the angle heel struts 8a and 8a', and 8b and8b', at the lower ends thereof.

Each laterally extending tie rod spacing and anchor member is secured atits central portion to its pair of angle heel struts, and extendslaterally from each side of the arch strut to which its angle heelstruts are secured.

The outer end of each tie rod spacing and anchor member has formedtherein a tie rod receiv- Ing aperture II.

Laterally spaced longitudinally extending tie rods I2 and I2' are eachprovided with threaded outer ends I3 each of which extends through oneof the apertures II, and a nut I4 is screwed upon each threaded tie rodend I3, and the nuts I4 react against the outer faces of the tie rodspacing and anchor members Ia, and Illb, and apply suitable tensionloads on the tie rods I2 and I2.

For resisting lateral displacement of the arch strut apexes 3a and 3b,and for resisting abnormal reverse orrvibration loading'of the joist,

a pair of longitudinally extending reinforcing angles I5 and I5' may besecured as by arc welds I to the apexes 3a and 3b of the struts 2a and2b, on opposite sides thereof, with one legv of each angle spaced belowone of the chord members or bars 5 and 5' and extending laterally fromthe side faces of the arch struts to which particular reinforcing angleis secured.

For providing end supports for the arch joist J-I above the laterallyspaced tie rods I2 and I2', laterally spaced angle end supports Ilia andI6a', and IBb and I6b', are secured as by arc welds I, on opposite sidesand at the upper outer corners I'Ia and IIb of the struts 2a and 2b,respectively, and the angle end supports are transversely spaced abovethe tie rods I2 and I2', that is to say under the normal use of the archjoists J-I, the lever end supports are above the tie rods and the endsupports extend longitudinally beyond the ends of the arch joists anydesired distance coextensive with the terminals 5a and-5b, and 5a.' and5b of the chord bars 5 and 5', and the angle end supports and the chordbar terminals are preferably ysecured to each other as by arc welds 1.

Each arch joint J-I is pendulously supported at its ends by resting theangle end supports I6a and Ilia', and I6b and Ib', respectively, onsuitable bearings, which may be beams Ia and I8b, respectively, of themain frame of a building indicated generally by I9.

For attaining the most efficient co-action between the improved joistload sustaining members J-I and the preferred refractory tile surfaceforming members T-I, each joist JI includes tile clamping bars 20a and2Gb secured respectively as by arc welds 'I on the outer faces of thelaterally extending legs of the angle heel struts 8a and 8a', and 8b and8b', above the tie rod spacing and anchor members Illa and Ib,respectively.

The tile clamping bars 20a and 2Ilb thus secured respectively on theouter ends of the bases 9a and Sb of the arch struts 2a and 2b, co-actwith the tile T-I, in an improved manner which will be hereinafterdescribed in detail.

In other words each of the improved joist load sustaining members J-Iincludes longitudinally extending upper chord members 5 and 5',longitudinally extending lower tie rod or chord members I2 and I2', archmeans maintainingV the chord members in proper load sustaining position,and end supports for pendulously supporting the joists.

The lower chord members I2 and I2' are transversely spaced below andlaterally spaced at opposite sides of the upper chord members 5 and 5',and certain of the objects of the present improvements are attained byutilizing the laterally spaced lower chord members as bearings for thelower ends of the tile T-I.

'Ihe lower tie rod or chord members I2 and I2' may each in itself have asuitable cross-section for resisting deflection when the tile T-I arebeing placed in position, it being understood that as hereinafter setforth in detail, after the tile T-I are placed in position the joistsJ-I co-act with the tile T-I under load so as to oppose transversedeflection.

As illustrated, however, a plurality of longitudinally spaced closedtriangular hanger frames 2I are applied around the upper chord members 5and 5' and the lower tie rods I2 and I2', the upper chord members andthe lower tie rod Vmembers being secured respectively as by Welding' atthe .apexes of the triangular hanger frame 2I which may be convenientlyformed of wire.

Each of the preferred refractory tile surface forming members T-I, is.preferably a hollow tile having a rectangular ytransverse cross-sectionand including normally horizontal, upper and lower rectangular walls Sfand 33e Whose outer surfaces respectively form the floor. surface S-fand th'eceiling surface S-c. Outer normally vertical longitudinallyextending rectangular side walls 39a andl 3619 extend between thelongitudinal side edges of the wall'sf30f and 30o, and a normallyvertical longitudinally extending rectangular reinforcing web wall 30dmay extend between the upper and lower walls 30j and 35o, and whendesired a normally horizontal longitudinally exten-ding rectangularreinforcing web wall 38e may extend between the side Walls 30a and 36hand intersect the vertical web wall 35d.

At each end of each tile, an upper end supporting portion 3 i includingupper end portions of the side walls 35d and SEIU, and of the verticalweb wall Sd, together with the upperwall Silf and the horizontalweo wall30d, extends .longitudinally beyond preferably vertically offset lowerfaces 32 including lower portions of the end faces of the side walls 39aand 3b,.and of the Vvertical web wall 36d, and the end face of thebottom wall`3c.

The lower longitudinally extending faces 33 of each end supportingportionl are formed by the lower faces of the longitudinally extendingupper end portions of the side walls 31311 and 3Go, and'of the verticalweb wall 30d, and are normally horizontal, and the normally horizontalfaces 33 form with the normally vertical faces 32 a notched or rabbetedseat indicated generally by 3,4 in each lower end corner of each tile.

In other words the improved .tile T-I, with the desired upperlongitudinally extending end supporting portion 3l, at each end thereof,may be formed by notching out each lower end corner of an ordinary greenrectangular building tile during the process of manufacture, by the useof hand notching wires, or machines, well known in the art.

As illustrated all the outer faces of the upper and lower walls 30] an-d30o and the side walls 30a and 39h of each tile, are smooth, and may beglazed; whereby in certain classes of construction no further floor orceiling finish need be applied over the outer surfaces of the upper andlower walls Sllf and 30C, whereby a glazed tile floor and ceiling finishis obtained.

When desired, it is obvious however that the outer surfaces of theupper, lower,.and side walls of each tile may be longitudinally tonguedand grooved in the well known manner for receiving finishing concrete,plaster, grout, or the like.

In order to obtain the maximum advantages of the present improvements,it is desirable that the overall length L of each tile be substantiallylonger than the corresponding dimensionyof tile used in other types oftile door construction.

This overall length L may be 18 inches, 24 inches, 36 inches or evenlonger depending upon rloadingand dimensional requirements.

In any event the greatest efficiency is obtained when the overall lengthL is greater than the lateral breadth B of the tile, and is also greaterthan the transverse depth D. Y

In erecting the floor F-I, the spanning joist Amembers J--I are placedin position so that their end supports I6@ and IBaand I6b and I6b",

rest on'. the bearing beams I 8a and |817, respectively, andthe joistsJ-I are laterally spaced from each other so that the distance betweenthe tie rod I2 of one joist and the tie rod I2 of the.

next adjacent joist is substantially equal to the length L between theopposite offset lower faces 32 of theY lower end portions of the sidewalls 35a an-d 3022, the web wall 39d, and the lower ceiling formingwall 30o of each tile T-l.

Temporary flooring may then be laid across the arch struts 2a and 2bI ofthe joists, and the tile or blocks T-I may be laid directly Vfrom aboveso that each end supporting portion 3l rests on the adjacent tie rod I2or I2' of the Y adjacent joist, the length L of the upper walls 30jandthe upper end portions of the side walls 35a and Sb and the web wall36d of each tile T-I is such that the extremities of the en-d adjacenttile carried by the tie rods I2 and E2 of any particular joist J-l varelaterally spaced from each other and from the upper chord bars 5 and 5',a distance to permitconcrete, grout, or other compression resisting,self-setting plastic material C toI be poured Vdownwardly between thelaterally spaced tile end portions and the upper chord bars 5 an-d A5 ofthe joist. A centering plank 40 may be supported or suspended inabutment with the outer faces of adjacent lower end portions of thelower walls Stic, for receiving the plastic material C'when it ispoured, and until it is set. y

As best illustrated in Fig. 9, in the resulting floor structure F I, thecompression resisting concrete material C completely embeds each joist,and engages with the end portions of the tile walls.

It isalso to be noted that the notched seats 3d of the tile interlockwith the supportingrtie rods I2 and l2 of the joists J-i.

In the floor F-I the side walls of adjacent tile abut against each otherand clamping pressure is applied against the side abutting tile T-I, dueto the weight of the door itself, and any transverse loading thereof,acting through the longitudinally spaced clamping bars 26a and 25hbetween which the tile T-I are located.

Itwill also be noted that normal transverse loading of the iioor F-Ipla-ces the concrete C under compression between the laterally extendinganges of the` angle heel struts of each joist J-I. y.

From another standpoint, in the floor F-I each tile or block extendsbetween and bears on adjacent spanning joists J-I, and the outer facesof the walls 39j and 360 are transversely spaced from each other andhave side edges abutting each other. Y

The outer faces 'of all the upper iioor walls 30j of the adjacent tileT-l between any two adjacent joists are alined with each other, and

similarly the outer faces of all the lower ceiling walls 353e of theadjacent tile between any two adjacent joists are alined with eachother, and the transversely spaced alined outer faces of the walls Sfand 30o form with the outer facesof the concrete C the transverselyspaced oor and ceiling surfaces S-f and S-c, each extending laterallyand longitudinally with respect to the spanning joists J-I, and thetransverse spacing between the upper chord members 5 and 5 and the lowerchord members I2 and I 2 of the spanning joists is less Jthan thetransverse spacing of the surfaces S-f and S-c, and the transversely.spaced upper and lower chord members 5 and 5', and I2 and i2 are locatedbetween the transversely spaced surfaces S-f and S-c,

whereby the desired floor structure having the transversely spaced fiatfloor and ceiling surfaces S-f and S-c is attained by the use of only aplurality of the joists J-I, a plurality of the unitary similar tile T-Iand the concrete C.

."A second embodiment of the improved joist land tile iioor structure isindicated generally at F-2 in Fig. 10, and includes a plurality oflaterally spaced longitudinally extending improved. load sustainingspanning members each indicated generally by J-2, and a plurality ofimproved surface forming tile or block each indicated generally by T--2and extending between and bearing on adjacent spanning members 'J-2 and:forming a flat upper floor Surface S-Z-f and a flat lower ceilingsurface S-Z-c, the surfaces S-Z-f and S-Z--c being transversely spacedfrom each other and extending respectively above and below the spanningmembers J-2.

The spanning members J-2 constitute other embodiments of the lever archjoists, set forth in my aforesaid prior United States Letters Patent andapplications, and are further improvements of the joists J-I, wherebythe quantity of concrete required for making a reproof floor is reducedand the structural coaction of the joists and tile is improved in thefloor F--2.

One of the improved joists J-2, detached from the oor structure F-Z, isillustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, and includes triangular arch struts |02wand |0217, and |02a and |02b.

The struts I02a and |02b are arranged with their apexes |03a and |03babutting each other as at |04; and the struts I02a and |02b are arrangedwith their apexes |03a and |03'b abutting each other as at |00', `andthe struts I02a and |02b are spaced laterally from the struts I02a and|02b.

An upper chord member or bar |05 is secured along the upper edges |06aand |061) of the struts |02a and I02b, as by arc welds |01; andlaterally spaced from the bar |05, a chord member or bar |05 is securedalong the upper edges |06a and |06b of the struts |02'a and |02b, as byarc welds |01.

A channel heel strut |08a is interposed between the bases |0911 and|09'a of the laterally spaced arch struts |0211.l and I02'a and securedthereto as by arc welds |01; and a channel heel strut |08b is interposedbetween the bases |0919 and |09b of the laterally spaced arch struts|02b and |02b and secured thereto as by arc welds |01.

Laterally extending tie rod spacing and anchor members ||0a and ||0h aresecured respectively as by arc welds |01 on the outerfaces of thechannel struts |080, and |081)` respectively at the lower ends thereof.

Each laterally extending tie rod spacing and anchor member is secured atits central portion to its channel heel strut and extends laterally fromeach side thereof and from the opposite sides of the arch struts spacedby the channel heel strut.

The outer end of each tie rod spacing and anchor member has formedtherein a tie rod receiving aperture III.

Laterally spaced longitudinally extending tie rods I I2 and I I2' areeach provided with threaded outer ends I I3 each of which extendsthrough one of the apertures I I I and a nut I Ill is screwed upon eachthreaded tie rod end I I3 and the nuts II4 react against the outer facesof the tie rod spacing and anchor members I Illa. and I Ib, and applysuitable tension loads on the tie rods ||2 The lower tie rods or chordmembers II2 and IIE are transversely spaced below and laterally spacedat opposite sides of the upper laterally spaced shord members |05 and|05', and their respective arch struts.

For resisting lateral displacement of the arch strut apexes, and forresisting abnormal reverse or vibration loading of the joists J-Z alongitudinally extending channel I E5 is preferably interposed betweenthe strut apexes i03a. and |03b, and the strut apexes |03a and |03b andsecured thereto as by arc welds |01.

For providing end supports for the arch joists J--Z above the laterallyspaced tie rods ||2 and H2', a preferably channel end support IIa lsinterposed between the upper outer corners II1al and |i1a of the struts|02w and |02a, and secured thereto as by arc welds |01; and similarly a,channel end support ||6b is interposed between the upper outer corners||1b and II1b of the struts |02b and I02'b respectively, and securedthereto as by arc welds |01.

The end support |I6a extends longitudinally beyond the arch strut bases|09a and I|00at and the channel end support |I6b extends longitudinallybeyond the arch strut bases |0919 and |09b.

Each joist J-2 preferably further includes tile clamping bars I20a and|201) secured respectively by arc welds |01 on the outer faces of thechannel heel struts I08a and |08b, above the tie rod spacing and anchormembers I|0a and I I0bJ respectively.

A plurality of longitudinally spaced closed trapezoidal hanger frames|2| are applied about the upper chord members |05 and |05 and the lowertie rods ||2 and II2, and the upper chord members and lower tie rodmembers are preferably secured respectively as by welding at the apexesof the trapezoidal hanger frames IZI.

The preferably refractory tile or blocks T-Z are similar in form to thetile T--I, and include spaced end supporting portions I3| formed byproviding notched or rabbeted seats indicated at I 34 in each lower endcorner of each tile.

In erecting the floor F-Z the spanning joist members J-Z are placed inposition so that their end supports |I6a and lIBb rest on spaced bearingbeams, not shown, and the joists J-Z are laterally spaced from eachother in a manner similar to that described for the joists J-I of thefloor F-I.

The tile T-Z are then laid in a manner similar to that described for thepositioning of the blocks T-I, the principal difference between the oorv F-Z and the floor F-I arising from the use of the upper laterallyspaced chord members 5 and 5 and the arch struts therefor, whereby inthe floor F-Z the concrete material C may be poured downwardly betweenthe upper chord bars |05 and |05 of the joists, and also the ends of thetile J-2 may preferably abut directly against the sides of the adjacentarch struts for effecting an interlocking structural coaction betweenthe joists J-2 and the tile T-Z.

The third embodiment of the improved floor structure is indicatedgenerally at F-3 in Fig. 11, and is generally vsimilar to the floor F-2.The floor F-3 includes laterally spaced longitudinally extendingspanning joists J-3 and a plurality of tile or blocks T-3 extendingbetween and bearing on adjacent spanning members J-3, and forming a flatupper floor surface S-S-f and a flat lower ceiling surface S-3--c, thesurfaces S-3-f and S-3-c being transversely spaced from each other andextending respectively above and below the spanningjoist members J-3.

The joist members J-3 are identical in manner of use with the joistmembers J-Z, but are made as illustrated by the use of trussconstruction rather than arch construction.

One of the joists J-3 is illustrated indetail in Figs. 5 and 6.

A fourth embodiment ofthe improved floor structure is indicatedgenerally at F-l :in Fig. 12, and is generally similar to the floorstructure F-I, but includes the use of trussed joists J-4, one of whichis illustrated in detail in Figs. 7 and 8.

The fifth embodiment ofthe improved floor structure indicated generallyat F-5 in Fig. 13, includes arch joists J-5 Iwhich are structurallysimilar to the arch joists J-Z, and tile or 'blocks T-5, each end ofeach of whichis formed-as illustrated foi` `bearing on one ofthe-joistsJ--S and for extending above and vbelow the joists` J-5thereby totally inclosing the -joists lloetween the ends of endvadjacent tiles 'IP-5. The tiles T-5 preferably abut each other sidewisea-s well as -endwise, and the oor F- is erected as indicated in Fig. 13byrlaterally sliding each joist -.J-5 into -the alined formed ends ofa-temporarily supportedrow of the tile T-.

The sixth embodiment -of =the improved -floor structure indicatedgenerally by F-G in Fig.. 14, isgenerally similar tothe.oor-F-5,.-withthe exception that the joists J-6 of the floorF-i areconnectedwith each other laterally as bylaterally extending-rods 50eachend of which is connected with one of the laterally spaced` arch strutsofoney of the joists .1 -6, which' arestructurallysimilar to the joistsJ--2.

The. tile .-T-'B `of thefloor F-6 are each-so formed that each endextends. ybelow :its supporting lio-ist .J- forming a shelf upon whichtheconcrete C maybe poured.`

It `will be observed .that v.eachof the. improved joists -J-l .toJ--6,-inclusive, comprises a selfsustaining .and load. sustainingspanning` structure. including. transversely spaced.. longitudinallyextending. Ychord. members. and means, Veither arch strut means or trussmeans, which maintain the chord vmembers in .load sustaining .positionsthroughout the. span .length thereof..

Each .joist or self sustaining. and .load sustaining spanning structurealso preferably includes laterallyspaced normally lower .chord membersand ,preferably laterally spaced normally upper chord members located.between .normally vertical planespassing through the lowerchordmembers, whereby the .lower chord members .aire adaptedto .support.the tile of the. several :floors F-I to F-6,..inclusive..

Each of-the joistsor self-.sustainingfand.load sustainingspanningrstructure.furthermore preferably includes a .longitudinallyextending. end suppor-t vat .each end-.thereof and alsopreferablyincludes longitudinally .spaced clampingL lbars preferably secured atoppositeendsof ther-structureand extending laterally beyond oppositesides of .thenormally upper chord member or members .and being adaptedto .clamp the tile supported on the normally lower chord members.

Moreover, in -each ,ioist, .the chord members through the entire spanlength thereof, arev may be termed truss means.

I claim:

1. Av self-sustaining 'and' load sustaining spanning structure includingtransversely spaced 1ongitudinally extending chord members, and trussmeans maintaining the chord members inload sustaining positionsthroughout the span length thereof, the chord members including normallyY lower chord members laterally spaced from each.

other and a normally upper chord member lo*- cated between normallyvertical. planes passingy through the normally lower chord members.

2. A self-sustaining and load sustaining `spanning structure includingtransversely spaced longitudinally extending chord members, .and trussmeans maintaining the 'chord members in'load sustaining positionsthroughout the span length thereof, the chord members including normallylowerv chord members laterally spaced from each other and normally upperchord members laterally spaced from Aeach other and the upper chordmembersy being located between normally vertical planes passing throughthe normallyl lower chord members.

3. Aselfsustaining and load sustaining spanning structure includingtransversely spaced longitudinally extending chord members, and trussmeans maintaining .the chord members in load sustaining `positionsthroughout the span lengtlfithereof,` the chord members includingnormally lower chordfmembers laterally yspaced from each other andnormally upper chord members located betweenfnormally vertical planesApassing through the normally lower chord members.

4. A self-sustaining and load sustaining spanning Vstructure for use asa Yjoist and the like, the structure including transversely spacedlongitudinally extendingchordmembers, and truss means maintaining thechord members in load sustaining positions throughout the* span lengththereof, the chord members including: normally lowerchordmemberslaterally spaced from:.each other .and a normally upper chord memberiocated between :normally-vertical planes passing through thenormallylowerchord members, and longitudinally spaced laterally extendingclamping bars operativelyy associated with some of the members, 'theeclamping bars extending llaterally beyond opposite vsides of thenormally upper chord member and being adapted to Vclamp tile and the`like supported on the normally lower chord members.

5. A self-sustaining and'load sustaining spanning structure for -use asa joist andv the like, the` structure including transversely spacedlongitudinally extending chord members, and truss means maintaining thecho-rd members in vload sustaining positions throughout the span-lengththereof, the chord `members including. normally lower chord memberslaterally spaced fromv each other and `normally upper chord members'laterally spaced from each other and the upper chord members' beinglocated between normally vertical planes passing through the normallylower'chord members, 'and longitudinally'spaced laterally extendingclamping bars operatively associated with some of the members, theclamping bars extendinglaterally beyond opposite sides of the normallyupper chord members-and being adapted toclampftile and thev likesupported.y on thenormally lower chordm'embers.

6. A self-sustaining and load vsustaining spanning structure for useasia joist and thelike, the structure including transversely spacedlongitudinally -extending chord members, 'andv truss means maintainingthe chord members in load sustaining positions throughout the spanlength thereof, the chord members including normally lower chord memberslaterally spaced from each other and normally upper chord memberslocated between normally vertical planes passing through the normallylower chord members, and longitudinally spaced laterally extendingclamping bars operatively associated with some of the members, theclamping bars extending laterally beyond opposite sides of the normallyupper chord members and being adapted to clamp tile and the likesupported on the normally lower chord members.

7. A self-sustaining and load sustaining spanning structure includingtransversely spaced longitudinally extending chord members, and trussmeans maintaining the chord members in load sustaining positionsthroughout the span length thereof, the chord members including normallylower chord members laterally spaced from each other and a normallyupper chord member located between normally vertical planes passingthrough the normally lower chord members, and a longitudinally extendingend support at each end of the structure.

8. A self-sustaining and load sustaining spanning structure includingtransversely spaced longitudinally extending chord members, and trussmeans maintaining the chord members in load sus-taining positionsthroughout the span length thereof, the chord members including normallylower chord members laterally spaced from each other and normally upperchord members laterally spaced from each other and the upper chordmembers being located between normally vertical planes passing throughthe normally lower chord members, and a longitudinally extending endsupport at each end of the structure.

9. A self-sustaining and load sustaining spanning structure includingtransversely spaced longitudinally extending chord members, and trussmeans maintaining the chord members in load sustaining positionsthroughout the span length thereof, the chord members including normallylower chord members laterally spaced from each other and normally upperchord members located between normally vertical planes passing throughthe normally lower chord members, and a longitudinally extending endsupport at each end of the structure.

l0. A self-sustaining and load sustaining spanning structure for use asa joist and the like, the structure including transversely spacedlongitudinally extending chord members, and truss means maintaining thechord members in load sustaining positions throughout the span lengththereof, the chord members including normally lower chord memberslaterally spaced from each other and a normally upper chord memberlocated between normally vertical planes passing through the normallylower chord members, 1ongitudinally spaced laterally extending clampingbars operatively associated with some of the members, the clamping barsextending laterally beyond opposite sides of the normally upper chordmember and being adapted to clamp tile and the like supported on thenormally lower chord members, and a longitudinally extending end supportat each end of the structure.

ll. A self-sustaining and load sustaining spanning structure for use asa joist and the like, the structure including transversely spacedlongitudinally extending chord members, and truss means maintaining thechord members in load sustaining positions throughout the span lengththereof, the chord members including normally lower chord memberslaterally spaced from each other and normally upper chord memberslaterally spaced from each other and the upper chord members beinglocated between normally vertical planes passing through the normallylower chord members, longitudinally spaced laterally extending clampingbars operatively associated with some of the members, the clamping barsextending laterally beyond opposite sides of the normally upper chordmembers and being adapted to clamp tile and the like supported on thenormally lower chord members, and a longitudinally extending end supportat each end of the structure.

y12. A self-Sustaining and load sustaining spanning structure for use asa joist and the like, the

structure including transversely spaced longi' tudinally extending chordmembers, and truss means maintaining the chord members in loadsustaining positions throughout the span length thereof, the chordmembers including normally lower chord members laterally spaced fromeach other and normally upper chord members located between normallyvertical planes passing through the normally lower chord members,longitudinally spaced laterally extending clamping bars operativelyassociated with some of the members, the clamping bars extendinglaterally beyond opposite sides of the normally upper chord members andbeing adapted to clamp tile and the like supported on the normally lowerchord members, and a longitudinally extending end support at each end ofthe structure.

13. A self-sustaining and load sustaining spanning structure including anormally upper longitudinally extending chord member and normally lowerlongitudinally extending chord-members, and members interposedtherebetween and maintaining the chord members in load sustainingrelationship with each other throughout the span length thereof, thelower chord members being located in normally vertical planes spacedlaterally from the normally vertical plane passing through the upperchord member, and longitudinally spaced laterally extending clampingmembers on the structure, the clamping members extending beyond oppositesides of the normally upper chord member.

HURXTHAL F. FREASE.

